Smell of gas leads to evacuation at Three Rivers

Norwich – Three Rivers Community College was evacuated briefly this afternoon because of a report of the odor of gas.

East Great Plain Fire Department was called to the school at 574 New London Turnpike at 4:22 p.m. with Norwich Public Utilities. Police said an investigation determined there was no leak.

NPU General Manager John Bilda said along with the call to the school, another call of a potential gas leak came from 77 Salem Turnpike, a shopping plaza on Route 82. Nothing was found in that location either.

Bilda said since the recent gas explosions elsewhere in the country — including an apartment building destroyed in Manhattan — the number of calls to NPU for potential gas leaks has skyrocketed. He said most calls prove to be false alarms, but he said crews respond equally to all calls.